The Memphis Grizzlies still have D'Angelo Russell on a guaranteed $5.97 million contract, leaving a trade or buyout as the likely next step.
The Memphis Grizzlies traded AJ Johnson to New Orleans on Tuesday morning in the deal that brought back Jordan Hawkins and Micah Peavy.
Johnson's trade aggregation restriction had expired, Third Apron salary cap analyst Yossi Gozlan wrote.
D'Angelo Russell came to Memphis in the same six-team trade that brought Johnson there in July. He is still on the roster.
Memphis and Russell have already been expected to work toward either a trade or buyout. The most logical path is to work the trade market first and reach a buyout if nothing comes together.
Grizzlies Can No Longer Stretch D'Angelo Russell's Contract
One option is already gone. The deadline to waive a player and stretch his 2026-27 cap hit across multiple seasons passed Aug. 29. A player had to be waived that day in order for his salary to qualify for the stretch provision this season.
Russell has one year left. Stretching his $5,969,250 salary would have spread the cap hit across three seasons at roughly $1.99 million per year. Waiving him now leaves the full number on Memphis' books.
Russell opted into his player option June 19 while still under contract with Washington. The salary is the second year of the two-year, $11.65 million deal he signed with Dallas in July 2025 through the taxpayer mid-level exception.
It expires next summer.
The Mavericks traded Russell to the Wizards on Feb. 5 in the deal built around Anthony Davis. He never appeared in a game for Washington.
Russell played 26 games last season and started three. He averaged 10.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 19.0 minutes. He shot 40.5% from the field and a career-low 29.5% from 3-point range.
D'Angelo Russell Has Moved Around The NBA
The Los Angeles Lakers took Russell second overall out of Ohio State in 2015. He made the All-Star team in 2019 after averaging 21.1 points for Brooklyn.
His scoring peaked at 23.1 points per game in 2019-20, and two seasons later, he posted a career-high 7.1 assists per game.
Across 655 career games, Russell has averaged 17.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.6 assists.
Memphis is his sixth franchise, after the Lakers, Brooklyn, Golden State, Minnesota, and Dallas. The Grizzlies acquired Russell in July alongside Isaiah Stewart, Johnson, a conditional first-round pick, three second-round picks, and a second-round pick swap. Santi Aldama went to Dallas.
Grizzlies Still Have Roster Decisions To Make
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported on July 31 that the Grizzlies had 19 players signed to standard contracts, four above the regular-season limit of 15.
Tuesday's trade sent two players out and brought two back. Memphis had already completed a buyout with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope earlier in the summer.
Scotty Pippen Jr., Ty Jerome, Walter Clayton Jr., and Javon Small are also on the roster at guard. A Western Conference scout told Heavy Sports the Grizzlies are a point guard away.
Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo has Cameron Boozer, the third overall pick in June's draft, and Cedric Coward on the roster.
Memphis traded Ja Morant to Portland on June 29 and finished 25-57 last season. Russell's $5.97 million is guaranteed either way. The question now is whether Memphis can get something back for him before turning to a buyout.
Rosters must be down to 15 standard contracts before the regular season.
